Distributing-machine.



No. 651,309. Patented Sept. 451900. F. B. CONVERSE, .IB.

DISTRIBUTING MACHINE.

(Application filed Ian. 18, 1900.) (No Model.) 9 Shasta-Sheet l.

3 k C k 16 6 m: NORRIS nnzns w. moi-owns WASHINGTON, o. c.

- Patented Sept. 4, I900.

F. B. CONVERSE, 1B. DISTBIBUTING'MACHINE.

(Application flied .nm. 13, 1900.

9 Sheets-Sheet 2.

(No Model.)

W/ r/v E5555 Q o P A .L p .e HS .8 t H e a DI .Fm mm E A E .7 6 Wm .nl m R m 9 o w 7 5 6 0 N (Application filed Jan. 13, 1900.)

9 Sheets-Sheet 3 {No.lludel.)

Patented Sept. 4, i900.

9 Sheets-Sheet 4.

E 1 I a llmzzll m F. B. CONVERSE, IR. DISTRIBUTING MACHINE. um... filed Jan. 15, 1900.

TH: nonms mzns 00.. WOTO-LITNO" wnsumsrou, n. c,

No. 657,309. Patented Sept. 4, I900. F. B. CONVERSE, In. DISTRIBUTING MACHINE.

(Application filed Jan. 18. 1900.)

9 Sheets-Sheet 5.

(No Iladel.)

IIIIII rm: nomys FEI'ERS 00, w

- Patented Sept. 4, I900. F. B. CONVERSE, In. DISTRIBUTING MACHINE.

.(Application filed Jan. 13, 1900.)

9 Sheets-Sheet 6,

(No Model.)

'0 g) fly dawm.

m: Noams PETERS co. Pnoraumo. WASHINGTON. u. c.

N0. 657,309. Patented Sept. 4, I900. F CONVERSE, III DISTRIBUTING MACHINE.

(Application filed. Jun, 13, 1900.)

9 Sheath-Sheet -7 (llo Ilqdel.)

II W/TA/EESEE //v VE/V FD 69 45. 191%- Qflu 120., wcTo-umm WASHING No. 657,309, Patented Sept. 4, I900. F. B. CONVERSE, .In.

DISTRIBUTING MACHINE.

(Application filed Jan. 13, 1900.) (No Model.) 9 Sheets$haet 8.

//7|/E/7/7'L7R Gm, aims MGM.

No. 657,309. Patented Sept. 4, I900.

- F. acouvsnsz, In;

DISTRIBUTING MACHINE.

(Application filedJan. 13, 1900.)

(No Model.) 9 Sheets-Sheet 9;

W/r 555.55. cm on I l Yl/E Y mm A QZM M m M S TE YATENT Orrion.

ERANoIs BnooNvERs JR, LOUISVILLE, KENTUCKY, AssIe'NoE TO THE CONVERSE MANUFACTURING COMPANY, oE-o EvELAND, oHIo.

IDISTRIBUTING-MACHINE.I

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 657,30 9, dated September 4, 1900. Application filed January 13, 1900. serial No.1,272. (N0 inodel.) i

To all whom it may concern: 1 point for its removal, so that no more distri- Be it known that I, FRANCIS B. CONVERSE, bution can occur on that trip of the line. J r., acitizen of the United States, residing at Thus frequently only one type will be re- Louisville,in the countyof Jefferson and State moved, from a whole line in one passage 5 of Kentucky, have invented a certain new through the machine, and from the nature of and useful Improvement in Distributing-Mathe operation only a few at most will be dischines, of which the following is afull, clear, tributed, whereas with my system the reand exact description, reference being had to moval of any type is not dependent on the the accompanying drawings. prior removal of the type precedingit in the 10 The object of my invention is to provide a line, but the type are distributed when they machine for distributing type which while come opposite their proper receptive openbeing cheap in construction and certain in ings irrespective of their position in the line, performance shall be of extremely-rapid opseveraltype being frequently removed simuleration. taneously and all of the type being distributed 1 15 The machine is adapted to distribute any in one trip through the machine, except where a kind of type, which word herein includes both two or moretype of the same character are the ordinary printers type (cameo) and the consecutive, in which case the last one will be matrices of a line-casting machine. In the removed and the preceding ones ordinarily former case one distributer may be employed carried over for the next trip; but (as will be 20 in conjunction with several setting-machines. hereinafter explained) this does not usually As several distributing-machines as now condelay the operation of distribution. strncted are required for distributing the In my system thedistribution is preferably product of a large printing'office, it will be controlled by a system of definitive nicks on readily appreciated that an increase in speed the edge of the type, which automatically 2 5.- of operation will reduce the number of mathrow into operation corresponding ejectors; chines required, and this increase of speed but the inventionconsists, broadly, in the being attained without sacrificing other decombination, with means for holding type, of sirable features, but rather enhancingthem, removing mechanism automatically operat- I the efficiencyof the printing-office so equipped ing byany means to remove the proper type 0 is greatly increased. In enabling thisinand means whereby such removal takes place creased speed of operation I have devised a throughout the line and not simply at-the system of distribution whereby the type can end of it. I be distributed not simply singly from the end More particularly the invention compreof a line, as has been heretofore done, but hends the combination of carriers adapted to 5 from any point in the line. In other systems convey lines of type through the machine, heretofore devised the typeare carried singly ejectors having wards adapted to register through the machine, each one in a separate with nicks in the type, a stop on the side of carrier, or else, if more than a single type is the type opposite the ejector at a position taken in the carrier, they are carried through opposite such ejector, and an openingin ad- 40 the machine until each type as it is left on vance of said type and means whereby when the end of the line is in its turn removed. the wards of the ejector correspond with the When the type are taken singly in the carnicks of a type they shall enter them and riers, only one type can be distributed for each the engaging end of the ejector be drawn travel of a carrier through the machine. Likeforward until the type is opposite an opening 5 45 wise when a Whole line is taken in the carrier instead. of a stop and the ejector be then and the type are taken off the end of the line forced forward, so as to shove the type from only no distribution can begin until the line the line into the opening. reaches the removing mechanism which cor- The invention includes also the embodiresponds to the end type, and when therement of the invention 1 have shown in the 50 moval of this type is accomplished the next drawings andhereinafterdescribed,and,sum-

succeeding type may have already passed the inarizing it, it may be stated as consisting of plan, partly broken away and partly in sec tion, on the line 3 3 of Fig. 6. Fig. 4 is a horizontal section through the driving-shafts,

being on the line 4 4 of Fig. 1. These views. are all on the same scale. Fig. 5 is an end elevation of the machipe looking from the left-hand end of Fig. 1; and Figs. 6, 7, and S are vertical sections on the correspondinglynumbered lines of Fig. 1, Figs. 6 and 7 looking from the left and Fig. 8 looking from the right. These four figures are. likewise on the same scale,which is larger than thatof the preceding figures. The remaining figures are details and are on a still larger scale. Of them Fig. 9 is an enlarged view of the upper portion of section Fig. 7. Fig. 10 is a sectional plan on the line 10 10 of Fig. 9, and Fig. 11 is a sectional elevation on the line 11 11 of Fig. 10 looking in the direction of the arrows on such line. Fig. 12'is a horizontal section on the line 12 12 of Figs. 1, 5, or 6. Fig. 13 is a side elevation of the typecarrier with the type and .block contained therein,and Fig.14 is a cross-section on the line 14 14 of Fig. 13. In the machine, as shown, a is a suitablysupported bed-plate, from which rise at opposite ends the frame-plates a? a and intervmediate standards 07, which carry the horizontal plate a, supporting the ejectingmechanism. Though the machine is adapted to distribute type intoany convenient receptacles, in the form shown it is intended to distribute it into long removable cases, which carry parallel channels, which cases are adapted, to be transferred to a setting-ma.-

- chine, and I thus provide a table m for supporting these cases, which table is carried by the vertical standards a and the diagonal struts-a Themachine provides also a galley-tableg forreceiving the type to be distributed, and thisgalley-table is supported by the frameplate a and the diagonal strut a l.

There are several type-carriers which travel continuously through the machine, each receiving type from the galley and carrying it along'as it is being distributed. Each of these carrierscon'sists of a rectangular frame '0, which is a plate of substantially the same thickness as the bodyof the type, having arectangular. opening in itof the same heightas the type andsomewhat longer than the longest line with which the machine is in-. tended to be used. Figs. 13'and14show'such a line oftype in the carrier. In, advance of the'lineis a blockc', which maintains the type on theirfeet. In the particular machine sho'wn the're are ten of these-carriers,

five of them (0 to 0 beingvisible in Fig.1,

' the sixth (0 in Fig. 8, and theother'four (e to 0 in Fig. 2. final carrier 0 ina difierent position of the mechanisms. 7 These carriers travel continu- Fig. 6shows, as c, the

ously in an endless fours-way path in a vertical plane, there being free moving space great enough to include the carrier. In the upper reach p of the four-way path the carriers travel horizontally toward the right of the machine along a support which is atthe forward edge of the plate 0;. The carrier at the extreme end of the machine is lowered ered for the return at the same time that the;

filled carrier at the other end is elevated;

Starting now with the carrier just about to be filled, this carrier stands above and at the rear of the printers galley g, which rests on the table 9 and contains a column or page of type to be distributed. It is the carrier designated in Fig. 6. A weight (not shown) acting on a cord .9 Figs. 1, 3, 5, and 12, passing. over a pulley 9, draws along the guide-rod g a follower g, which has an adjustable extension g. This follower and extension operate to shove the whole block of type on the galley rearward until the farthest line bears against the plate h,.Fig. 6, the line thus lying in an openingj in the late which is directly infront of the plate h. This plate 7' carries at its lower end a studj", which projects intoa slot in the yokej, Figs. .1 and 6, which yoke car'- ries aroller 77?, taking. into a groove j in the cam 3' As hereinafter explained, whenever the conditions are ripe for anew line of type to be. loaded into the carrier the yoke.

j becomes locked to the plate wherefore for the present the roller f may be considered as though rigidwith the plate. Now by the rotation of the shaft 11 (which is actuated "intermittently in amountsof onerota tion) its cam j, operating on the roller elevates the plate 3' and carries the y entrained line of type with it upward directly in front ofthe opening inthecarrier 0. Thereupon the block 9' pivoted atj and carryingan adjustable extension 3 is forced by the leaf-spring 7' Fig.1, rearward, shoving the line of type rearward fromthe plate jl into the carrier 0 i e is thus loaded the cam hflFigs. 1, 2, and 4, actson. the roller 71. of the linkfi", which draws to the left of themachinethe rocker arm h, which issecured to the hub of a lever h journaled on the stud 71 carried by thestandard W. This rocks the lever h thus forcing. upward the leftrhand end thereof, which is connected .by a stud h with the plate It. This elevates-the loaded carrier 0, and

As soon as the carrier atthe same time the other end of the lever 71 brings .down the depleted carrier 0 as hereinafter explained. As the loaded carrier c iis elevated by the action of the plate 71. it passes above the pawl-plate h Fig. 6, forcing it into the recess h, allowing it to spring back by means of the spring h beneath the filled carrier, thus retaining it in the elevated position while the plate h descends. The completed carrier has now come into alinement with the upper path and is designated Figs. 1 and 6. As the carrier comes into this position its upper edge comes against the end of an arm 16*, which projects over its path, being fixed 0n the rock-shaft 70 journaled in frame parts a (1 carried by the plate a Fixed to this rock-shaft is the wide arm or plate W, Figs. 1, 2, and 6, and

adjacent to this plate and loosely fulcrumed on the shaft is the arm which is elastically locked to the arm k by the spring 15 A block 76 Figs. 3 and 6, stands just at the left of the elevated carrier 0 and has a pair of arms or straps taking slidably around a rod 10 parallel with the rock-shaft k Slidable on a rod 70 between the straps 70 is a block 10 which has fixed to its upper end the fragmentary nut 70, which is adapted to mesh with the threads of a screw 70, which is journaled in the frame member a? and thebracket of and is continuously rotated in the direction to drive the nut toward the right of the machine. Now as the carrier 0 which has just been elevated, raises the end of the arm 70 this rocks the shaft 10 and thereby swings forward the arm k and the arm 10 The nut 70, being directly in front of the arm k is forced with a yielding pressure into engagement with the threads of the constantly-rotating screw 7c, the yielding pressure being provided to prevent the parts from being jammed in case the threads of the nut and screw do not exactly mesh at first. The nut coming into mesh with the screw, the rotation of the latter advances the nut and with it the carrier 0 As soon as the nut begins advancing it is held in positive engagement with the screw to the end of its forward movement by the arm or plate k This forward movement advances the carrier 0 and the whole line of carriers 0 c c c in advance thereof, the farthest carrier at the end of the forward movement of the nut being beneath the returning plunger 1 hereinafter referred to, and the filled carrier being in the first ejection position, as shown at c in Fig. 1. As this position of the parts is attained the carrier passes from beneath the end of the arm is, permitting the arm to drop and causing the arm 70 to release the nut 70, which thereupon swings rearward by gravity out of engagement with the screw and is returned to its normal position by a cord 10 Figs. 2, 3, and 5, secured to the block 710 and passing over a pulley 70 and carrying at its end a weight is As soon as the nut. 70 returns to its normal position a pin it, carried by the lefthand strap it, engages with the arm n of a bell-crank lever pivoted at a whereby the other arm n of that lever draws up the linlc a which through the rock-lever n on the rock-shaft n withdraws the pawl a also on that shaft, from engagement with the tail n of a pawl n pivoted at n to a disk 17?, se- -cured to the shaft n. This releasing of the pawl 111 allows the spring 17. to force the nose n of the pawl against the periphery of the notched disk 1t, Figs. 2, t, and 6, which is continuously revolving concentrically of the shaft, whereby as the nose n engages with one of the notches the shaft nis caused to rotate. At the completion of a rotation the pawl a, standing in the path of the pawl-tail 92 withdraws the pawlnose or from the notched disk and the rotation of'the shaft'ceasesf hereinbefore described, the rotation of the shaft 11 operates to fill a new carrier and ele vate it into place and draw down the depleted carrier, and it will now be seen that this operation follows automatically upon the advancement of the previously-filled carrier into the first ejection position.

The removal or ejection mechanism carried by the horizontal frame-plate a is grouped into banks which correspond to the type-cases to be filled. In the machine shown the first of these banks contains ejectors adapted to cooperate with the type-cases M, which may receive the spaces of various sizes in the line. Then follow four banks, each of which cooperate with the respective cases which receive character-type, as determined by the settingmachine employed. The last bank is shown as consisting of two ejectors cooperatin g with the type-case m, which may be employed to receive miscellaneous sorts. The grouping into banks and the arrangement of the typecases, however, is an immaterial matter and one that varies with the setter employed. The ejection mechanism is the same throughout and is simply varied in number in the difierent banks shown. The ejecting mechanism employed is the same system, broadly,

a and confined laterally between the rails 6 e on its rear side and the notched blocks d on its forward side, which blocks are held in place by nuts d screwing onto projecting studs d. The ejectors are on the rear side of the type, there being one ejector for each character of type to be distributed, and they are adapted to be reciprocated to shove type from the carrier. In the form shown the ejector consists of two jointed pieces, the type-engaging piece being a guided plate e and the driving piece being a bar 6, pivoted thereto. The width of a plate e is slightly less than the width of a type. As heretofore stated, the distribution of type is governed by the definitive nicks in the edge thereof. On the forward end of the ejector-plates e are wards e correspond? mg to the nicks in the typewith whietuie ejector is adapted to cooperate. The plates 6 are guided in a horizontal plane in notches in the rails e e and in vertical slots in the .rails 6 in which they fit somewhat loosely. The

ejector is thus permitted a longitudinal movement and a slight degree of rotation about an axis within the rail 6 As will appear, this rotation is but slight, and the allowable amount of play in the guides is sufficient to permit this movement without providing a positive journal.

-Pivoted at e to theejector-plate e is the bar I e, which has its rear end formed into a yoke curving around in a U'shape, in the interior of which are ratchet-shaped teeth 6 These teeth are of the proper form to mesh with the teeth of aratchet-cylinder f, which is journaled in bearings f and passes through the yoke of all the ejectors and is continuously rotated in the direction of the arrow in Fig. 9 by a belt on the pulley f The bar e extends forward from the pivot 6 passing through a strap 6 on the side of the plate e and having its extreme end 6 beneath the projections 8 of theupper rail 6 which establish the notches e which the forward end of the plates e occupy. Thus normally the bars 6' are held out of engagement with the cylinder f.

The forward ends of the wards of the ejectors rest against the side of the advancing line of type being pressed forward by the spring a", which acts diagonally to hold the forward endof the ejector against the type the spring e.' The notches e in the guides e e are enough wider than the ejector 'to' permit a considerable advancement of the end of the ejector in' the same direction as the type is traveling. The end 6 of the bar 6 stands normally, as stated, beneath theside' wall e of this; notch, and thebar is'thus maintained out of engagement with the cylinder f. Each ejector maintains this position as the line of type passes in front of it until a type having the combination of nicks' corresponding to' the wards on any particular ejector is brought in front of that ejector.

As soon as this takes place, however, the

spring 6 causes the platee to be advanced, the wards passing into the nicks, and thereupon the further advancement of the line of typebrings the next type in the line (unless it is of the same character, and hence has the same nicks as the type inengagement, which condition is hereinafter referred to) against the side of the wards of the ejector,]swinging the-end of the ejector in the same direction as the'line is traveling. slightrotative movement of the ejectoris to cause the end e of the bar e to be released from under the projection e passing into the notch e at the moment that the type comes opposite the channel d7 in the block d. The forward end of the ejector-bar e" being released, the rear end drops into engagement with the cylinder f, which, rotating the upper side forward, shoves the ejector forward, thus shoving the type into the notch d, op-

posite the ejector, which notch communicates with a vertical tube (1 which carries the type to the proper case. The tube is twisted on .a vertical axis ninety degrees to turn the type around flat side to the front-of the machine and as it drops into the rear of the type-case is fed forward by the continuously-revolving wiper-shaft m at the rear of the type therein, shoving forward such type and theretainingblock m Thus the engagement of the ejector-wards with a correspondingly-nicked type followed by a difierent type causes the ejec- The result of this tion of the engaged type and itspassage into its proper case. 3

' The receivingchannels d may be made very materially wider than the corresponding type, the excess of width, however, being less than the thickness of the thinnest type, wherefore it shall be impossible for two type topass into the channel. Hence while the type is being ejected the linemay still continue to advance, the type being clear of the line before the line moves far enough to cause the type to be advanced against, the side of the receiving-channel. The motion of ejection being only for the width of the body of the type and the mechanism herein described performed very rapidly) the teeth 6 at the rear of the gear-cylinder f have engaged with the cylinder and the rearend of the ejector has been elevated, bringing the'lower reach of teeth into engagement with the cylinder, whereby the ejector is withdrawn. As the ejector isthus withdrawn the springe causes it to return to its positive engagement against the side of the notch e as soon as the ends of the wards clear theline of type. The rear end of the bar e being elevated, the forward' end is depressed below the bottom of the proj ectio'ns 6 between the notches 6 and as the rearward movement is completed the upper rear edge of the bar a impinges against the edge of the projecting bracket f ,which forces the bar downward put ofengagement with the cylinder. As the teeth are released the "bar e swings to its initial position, the end e being beneath the projection e and preventing engagement with the cylinder. The

parts retain this position until the ejector is again advanced by its wards springing into the nicks of another type of the same denomination. When the type engaged happens to be at the rear end of the line, the adjacent wall of the carrier engages the side of the wards and actuates the ejecting mechanism. The gaps in the line of type left by the removal of the ejected type are at once closed up, thus compacting the remaining line, by the continued advancement of the line, the pressure of ejectors in advance of the gap against the block 0 and against the type causing the type in advance of the gap to come to rest until thegap is closed. As the line is advanced through the machine more and more type are removed, under certain circumstances an the type of the line being distributed by the time the carrier reaches the end of its travel. There is thus throughout the distribution (and usually at the beginning thereof) a gap between the end of the block c in the carrier and the forward end of the carrier. The springs e tend to advance the ejectors into this gap, but lugs e provided thereon, (made, preferably, by turning aside a portion of the metal of the plate 6,) stand just behind the projections e a distance equal to the length of the wards, wherefore these lugs, while not interfering with the wards passing into the properly nicked type, prevent the ejectors passing into this gap farther than the length of these wards; but this slight intrusion does no harm, for. the wards simply engage with the back side of the follower-block c, which is beveled, as shown in Fig. 14, and are thus forced inward thereby. When the ejectoris brought into ejecting operation, the lug e is moved clear of the projections,.as shown in Fig. 10, where one of the ejectors is in this position.

It has been hereinbefore stated that under certain conditions all the type in a line would be distributed when a carrier had traveled through the length of the machine. Generally, however, a few type are left in the carrier to be distributed on the second trip, from the fact that when two or more adjacent type are of the same character, and thus are similarly nicked, the wards of the ejector, though entering the first type, will not eject it, not beingdeflected until a difierently-nicked type comes against them. Hence only the last type of the two or more will be ejected at this time. In the machine shown in the drawings from one to six type from a four-inch line are left in each carrier ordinarily after passing all the ejectors, which type are carried around and distributed the next time the carrier passes through the machine. In practice this number is kept-within the limits stated by having duplicate channels in the cases of a few of the letters which are most numerous, which provision from the standpoint of the setter alone is adesirable feature. Without these duplicate channels the nu mber, though greater, would still be within the allowable limits. The carriers are enough longer than the width of the galley so that the type ordinarily left in the line will not interfere with the addition of awhole new line to that carrier. stances when too many type are left in the carrieras, for example, when the line consists of a large number of similarly-nicked quads used in filling out the end of a para- Under exceptional circumgraphthe carrier will notreceiveits newline,

but will travel through the machine with the remainder until it is reduced to the maximum allowable amount to which the full line may be added, as hereinafterexplained. This con- .tingency, however, in practice may be rening the depleted carriers, reference is had particularly to Figs. 1, 2, 4, and 8. As the forward carrier from which nearly all (sometimes all) the type have been discharged reaches the right-hand end of the machine, it

is in position to be lowered'to the return-track, as heretofore alluded to. plished by the same lever h which, as heretofore explained, elevates the newly-filled carrier at the other end of the machine. At the advance end, however, this lever (adjustable by the screws h) is connected by a stud Z with the slide Z, carried-between guides Z on the rear side of the frame-standard (1 Attached to the upper end of the slide is the plunger Z which stands directly above the carrier coming into the extreme forward position, which carrierisindicated at 0 in Fig. 8. The carrier in this position rests on the pawl plate I, pivoted in a recess Pin the frame-plate a and held with its upper end beneath the carrier by the leaf-spring Z. The lower portion l of this pawl-plate has a projection extending into a beveled notch Z in the slide Z. From this it. results that as the lever it draws downward the slide Z the beveled upper edge of the groove Z presses the pawl-plate l -into its seat, and the plunger Ziengaging with the top of the carrierc fiorces the carrier down ward between the fra m e-plate a and the plate Z carried thereby, until it is in alinement with the lower trackp'. A block Z ,carryin g a lug Z projecting beneath and be- .yond the plate Z at a point to thev right of the position into which the descending carrier comes, is thus adapted to follow behind the carrier, shoving it onto the return-track. This block is carried between guides Z Z and has a stud Z which takes into a slot in the lever Z Figs. 1, 4, and 8, which is pivoted at Z to the frame-plate a and is adapted to be drawn 1 toward the left of the machine by the link Z (adjustable by the extension Z and screws 1.

pivoted at Z and carrying at its other end a roller Z engaged by a cam l on the shaft n and counteracted by a spring Z This cam is so timed that just after the plunger has brought down the depleted car rier the cam This is accom- ICC ' position for refilling, and thenthe spring 1.

acts toforce it and all the depleted carriers on the lower track to the left the length of one carrier, bringing the farthest carrier into returns the lever Z and its block Z to normal position.-

Asfheretoforepointed out, afew typewill- I ordinarilybe left in each carrier after ithas.

- other end'of the carrier as it comes into the position fol-loading. Thisis accomplishedas follows: At the left-hand end of the carrienon f the inner side of the opening, is a notch 0?,

'Figs.1.3 and 14,-and cooperating with this, on

the rear side of the carrier, is an incline 0r.

beveled notch 0 .Now as the carrier is returning into position to be loaded this bevspring This nose is pressed backward by the bevel c and then springs into the notch.

0 wherefore it stops the remaining type and block, and the continued advancement of the I carrier brings this remaining type andblock into th e right-hand end of the carrier, as

shown in Fig. 12, so as to be out of the way of the new line, and if the type remaining are not more than the maximum allowed the new line Wlll be fed into the space in the carrier between its left-hand end and the nose of the pawl j 1n the manner heretofore explained. If the type remaining in the carrier should be morethan the allowable maxi mum, there thus not being room enough left in the carrier for a new line of type, I provide mechanism for preventlngtheinsertion ofthatline. It willbe remembered that in describing the insertion it was stated that the yoke 7 Figs. 1 and 6, be-

came under normal circumstances locked to theplate which resulted in the cam j, which acts on the roller fielevating that plate. It Wlll be apparent that if this locking does not take place the cam will elevate the yoke idly without feeding new type into the carrier. Now this locking is determined by the amount of type which remains in the carrier,

as follows: The block 3' which carries the pawl 1s ournaled on a rod j, Figs. 2, 6, and 12,"on which it may both slide-and rotat'e.

It stands normally in the position shown, he

in drawn toward the right by a weight (not shown) on the cord j passing over a pulley 9 Below the rodg' is a parallel rod 3' carried at its ends in the rock-arms j fixed to the rock-shaft j", which is jonrnaled in the frame parts a of. On this rod 7' is a collar 7 adjustably fixed to the rod and extending into the path of the block 7' as it is advanced toward the. left by the type remaining in the carrier. 1 If this block is sufficiently advanced, it will impinge against the beveled end of the collar, thereby depressing it. which depresses the rodj and rocksv the shaft 7' This latter shaft has secured to it the downwardly-extending rock-arm 7'1 the lower end of which engages a pin 3' Figs. 1 and 2, which passes through the frame'a and on'the forward side of the machine liesjust above a beveled nose 3' on the'yoke j. Now if the carriercoming into position, to be loaded contains too many type to receive a new loadthe block 7' isv advanced-to the right sufficiently to engage the collar j which, as

stated, swings rearward the arm j and with- 1 draws the" pin j from engagement with the beveled nose of the yoke j. This leaves the yokeentirely free from the plate 7' and the cam 7' acting on the roller 7' simply elevates thisv yoke idly, and no more type is fed into the carrier, the carrier being again passed through the machine with the type it already contains. If, on the otherhand,when

. the type remaining in the carrier is within eled notch strikes the projecting nose of a I pawl F1gs. 6 and 12, whieh is carried 'b ya block and pressed toward the] carrier by,

theallowable amount, as is most usually the 1 case, the block j will notbe advanced far enough toengage the collar j wherefore the frod will not be depressed, the arm j -will not be actuated, and the pin j 12 will remain in engagement with the nosej of the yoke 3 Then as the camj acts on-the rollerj and elevates the yoke the-latte rwill-be tipped by its beveled nose to the right in Fig. 1, so

that the studj", extendingfrom the platej 1 instead of having the unobstructed vertical slotj below it, will be brought to the end ofv the diagonal slot 7', wherefore the yoke will beeomelocked to the plate j 18 and the-cam will 1 operate to elevate that plate and to feed type into the carrier, as hereinbefore explained. To increase the range of adjustment of the collar 7' I make it considerably longer through onehalf of its periphery than the other half, wherefore, as may be seen in Fig.

7 2, by turning it around the rod 7' for a halfrevolution I greatly vary the distance between the block j and the bevel. .'When the carrier is elevated either with a new load or with the remainder of the old load, the block 7' is simply tipped up onits pivot j (an openingj in the frame-plate 0. allowing this movement) and drops back by gravity into place to intercept the remaining type in the next carrier. I

The power arrangement of the machine shown is as follows, Figs. 4, 5, and 6: The machine is driven by tight and loose pulleys s s on the shaft 3, whichis journaled in standards .9 and 8 A belt passing over the sheave s 'on this shaft and the sheave k Figs. 3 and 5, on the end of the screw drives the latter. Another belt over the sheaves s and f drives the ratchet-cylinder f,'while- The remainde'rofthe mechanism is driven by cams already described on the shaft n, which is journaled in the standards 8 and s and receives its movement by being clutched to the notched disk 12, which is rigid with the hub of the beveled gear 3 Figs.4 and 6',

which meshes with the beveled gear 3 on the shafts.

Having describedmy invention, I claim-- 1. The combination, in a type-distributing machine, of means for'holding a compacted line of successive type and means for removing type from points inthe line intermediate of its ends, substantially as described.

2 In a type-distributing machine, in c ombinat ion, means for holding a'compacted line of successive type and means for removing type simultaneously from different points in the line, substantially as described.

3. The combination, in a type-distributing machine, of a carrier adapted tocontain a plurality of contiguous type, meansfor removing type from intermediate points of the carrier, and means for advancing the carrier relatively to said removing means, substantially as described. i

4. In a type-distributing machine, in combination, means for holding-a plurality of type, means for removing intermediate type therefrom, and means for closing up the gap caused by such removal, substantially as described. V 1

'5. In a type-distributing machine, in combination, a carrier adapted to hold'a line of type, means for advancing the carrier, means for successively removing type therefrom intermediate of the ends of the line, and means for continually collecting together the type remaining in the carrier after such removal, substantially as described.

6. In a type-distributing machine, in combination, a rigid carrier adapted to hold a line of type, a siidable block also held by the carrier and adapted to retain the type on their feet, means for removing type from the line at point-s intermediate of the ends thereof, means for advancing the carrier, and means for collecting together toward the rear end of the carrier the remaining type and said block, substantially as described.

7. In a type-distributing machine, in combination, a carrier adapted to hold a plurality of contiguous type, ejectors adapted to shoye type from the carrier, means for causing relative movement in the direction from one type to another between the carrier and ejectors, and means for actuating the ejectors to shove type from diderent points of the carrier, substantially as described.

8. In a typedistributing machine, removing mechanism including wards adapted to bemoved longitudinally to enter nicks in the type, provision for the movement of said wards laterally with the type when in said nicks, and means whereby said lateral movement of the wards actuates the removing mechanism, substantially as described.

means whereby it is actuated by'the engage-' ment of said wards with a succeeding type of difierent nicking, substantially as described.

11; In a type-distributing machine, in combination, means for holding a line of definitively-nicked type, means for advancing 1t, wards adapted to enter said nicks and shiftable in the direction of movement of said line, whereby when the wards enter a corresponding type the next succeeding part of the line if of different nicking will shift the wards, and means whereby such shifting of the wards actuates removing mechanism,

substantially as described; I I 12. In a type-distributing machine, an

ejector' having on its forward end wards adapted to enter nicks in suitably-held type, meansfor giving said ejector a tendency to move'toward the type whereby the wards automatically enter the nicks of corresponding type when presented, said ejector being capable of a lateral shifting when the wards are. in the nicks, mechanism actuated by such lateral shifting for causing a longitudinal movement of the ejector which movement shoves the type from the line, substantially as described.

13; In a type-distributing machine, in combination, means for holding a line of type, a pathway for said line in which each type travels alternately past points where it is confined in a pathway and where it is adapted to be removed therefrom, removing mechanism adapted to engage the type when it is in the confined position and adapted to be maintained in engagement by the next succeeding type until the engaged type moves into an unconfined position,and means actuated by such movement for causing the removal of the type when it comes into this position, substantially as described.

14:. In aitype-distributing machine, in combination, a series of carriers in the form of frames, means for causing them to travel con- -tinuously through the machine, means for leading them with type, means for ejecting type from various points in the line asthe carriers travel along, and means for continuously collecting together in the carrier the type remaining after such ejection, substantially as described.

15. In a type-distributing machine, in com,-

bination, a carrier consisting of a plate havin g a rectangular opening adapted to receive longer than any line the machine receives,

whereby type undistributed on one trip of I the carr er maybe added to a new line oftype,

- on a'second trip, substantially as described.

a line of type, meansfor moving saidicarrier through the machine,'means for removing type from said carrier, said'openingbeing "16. In a type-distributing machine, in combination, asystem of carriers adapted to travel repeatedly through the machine, means for feeding into such carriers a line of type to be distributed, means for removing such type from intermediate points in the carrier durin g its progress through the machine, means for collecting togetherthe type remaining in ihecarrier after removal, and means governing the feeding of a new line into the carrier which is dependent upon the amount of type 1 remaining in the carrier, substantially as descr bed. V I v 17. In a type-distributing machine, in combination, means for moving type to be distributed, a path for such movementone wall of which consists of alternate stops and openmgs, removingmechanism adapted to engage I a typewhen it is'opposite a stop and be shifted laterally by the advancing type until it is opposlte an opening, substantially as described,-

18. In a type-distributin g machine, in combination, a carrier adapted to hold a line of type, meansforiadvancingsaid carrier along apath therefor, one wall of said path consist ing of alternate stops and openings, removing mechanism adapted to engage a type when it 18 oppositea stop and be shifted laterally by the advancing line until it is opposite an opening, and means for then actuating the remov- 1 ing mechanism to remove such type, substantially as described.

19. In a type-distributing machine, in combinat on, a system of ejectors, a path for the type 1n front of the ejectors, means for'advancing the type along said path, the forward wall of said path consisting of alternate openings and stops, the ejectors being normally behind the stops, means whereby the presen-- tation of the corresponding type to an ejector shifts it to a point opposite the adjacent opening, and means for then advancin g the ejector to shove the type into the opening, substantially as described.

20. In a type-distributing machine, in combination, a path for a line of type, one side of which pathis composed of alternate stops and openlngs, a system of ejectors on ..the opposite side of the path having wards adapted to enter nicks in the type on that sideof said type and in line with the stops and adapted to be deflected until they are opposite the open1ngs,and means for then causing the ejector to shove the type from the line into the 0pening, substantially as described.

21. In a type-distributing machine, in combination, means for holding suitably-nicked type, an ejector carrying wards adapted to corresponding type which causes theengagement of said teeth with the cylinder, substan- .tially as described. 1 1

a 22. In a type-distributing machine, incombination, means for holding a line ofsuitably- "nicked type, a system of guide-plates having characteristic wards on their front ends adapted to enter correspondingly-nicked type, each of said plates carry-ing a yoke which presents internal teeth, a continuously revolving j toothed cylinder lying loosely within said teeth, and means whereby lateral shifting of theplate' causes the yoketo engage with said teeth, substantially as described.

23. Ina type-distributing machine, in combination, a series of longitudinally-movable plates having wards on their forward ends,

,theyoke out of engagementwith the gear- 3 cylinder, said plate being capable of a'lateral movement which disengages the yoke memher from its retaining-stop and allows it to 3 pass into engagement with the gear-cylinder whereby the plate is given a reciprocation,

substantially as'described. I

24. In a type-distributing machine, in comibinatio'n, a path in which a line of type is adapted to be fed, one wall of said path consisting of alternate stops and openings, longitudinally-movable plates on the opposite side of said path inline with the stops, means a for giving said plates a, movement toward the path,'wards on the forward ends of said platesad'apted to pass into nicks in corresponding type, there being provision for a lateral movement of said plates whereby a difierentlynicked succeeding type may shift a plate to a position opposite an opening, a yoke-piece carriedby the plate and having engageable teeth, a gear-cylinder adapted to engage said teeth but normallyout of engagement there- -with, means whereby when the plate is latorally shifted the yoke-piece comes into en-' g ement, substantially as described.

25. In a type-distrib'utin g machine, in comyOke-pieces pass in, said lateral movement moving said plate with the line therein until the type in the opening come opposite the carrier, and means for moving the type from :5 the opening into the carrier at this point, substantially as described.

In testimony whereof I hereunto affix my signature in the presence of two witnesses.

FRANCIS B. CONVERSE, JR.

Witnessesi ALBERT H. BATES, H. M. WISE. 

